| 12/2/2005 9:50:17 PM
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ROCHESTER, NY - Despite a solid effort by RIT (4-9-1) the Tigers fell to Union College (8-5-2), 3-2 this evening at Frank Ritter Memorial Arena. Union's Brendan Milnamow tallied the game-winning goal with 4:42 remaining in the third period to give the Dutchmen their eighth win of the season.
“We made progress tonight,” said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. “We didn't get the win but I though our guys played hard.”
RIT took a 1-0 lead at 6:02 of the first period on Darrell Draper (Tigard, OR/Cowichon Capitals)'s (Tigard, OR) fifth goal of the season. Draper took a pass from Jesse Newman (Westbank, BC/Trail) (Westbank, BC) right in front of Union's net and ripped a one-timer past Union goaltender Kris Mayotte.
Union tied the scored at 1-1 on a goal by Olivier Bouchard at 16:16 of the first. Bouchard was standing behind RIT's net and flung the puck in front. The puck deflected off of several RIT defenders and snuck past Jocelyn Guimond (St.-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere, PQ/Williams Lake) (Quebec City, PQ). Jonathan Poirier and T.J. Fox had the assists on the play.
Early in the second period RIT had a great chance to take the lead. Matt Smith (Toronto, ON/Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, ON) fired a shot on goal. The rebound came right to Rob Tarantino (Oakville, ON/Oakville Blades) (Oakville, ON), however the puck wouldn't lay down for him and his shot went right into Mayotte's pads.
The Tigers finally broke through on a two-man power play. Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, PQ/Cumberland Grads) (Ste.-Therese, PQ) gave RIT a 2-1 lead with his eighth goal of the season. Smith fired a shot from the side that Mayotte saved. However, the rebound came to Lambert who nailed a shot that deflected off an Union defender and past Mayotte.
Union had a chance to tie the score late in the second on rush into the zone by Torren Delforte. He was able to get a shot off on Guimond who made the saves, one of 11 saves he made on the period.
“I thought we were very strong the first two periods,” stated Wilson. “I thought we played much better than we had recently.”
The Dutchmen tied the score at 2:47 of the third on a power play goal by T.J. Fox. Scott Seney fed Fox a pass at the point and Fox wristed a shot that found its way through the traffic and past Guimond, tying the score at 2-2.
Union took their first lead of the game at 15:18 of the third. The Dutchmen were putting a great deal of pressure on RIT's defense. The loose puck came out to Brendan Milnamow at the left point. He sent a wrist shot the snuck past Guimond's right toe, giving Union a 3-2 lead.
RIT pulled Guimond late in the third but were unable to get the tying goal as time ran out. Union out shot RIT 32-25 on Friday. Jocelyn Guimond (St.-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere, PQ/Williams Lake) made 29 saves in net for the Tigers, while Union net minder Kris Mayotte made 23 stops.
RIT went 1-for-7 on the power play and allowed one power play goal in seven chances by the Dutchmen.
These same two teams will hook up on Saturday night in Schnedctady, New York. Game time is at 7:30 p.m.
